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Rose City Yarn Crawl 2012

Shannon — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:45:08 +0000

How very lucky are we to live in Portland and have access to the rich variety of crafty shops and folks that the Rose City has to offer? To add even more to Portland’s awesomeness, preparations are in full swing for the 2012 Rose City Yarn Crawl! If you’re not in Portland, isn’t now a great time to plan a vacation?

19 shops. 4 days. 20 amazing prize baskets. 19 Rose City Yarn Crawl patterns. Over 30 sponsors. What a great way to spend the first weekend in March. Every shop will be open from 10am-6pm Thursday through Sunday (at least. Twisted will be open regular hours for the entirety of the RCYC).

We’ve got an active Facebook page (hop over and “like” the RCYC!) There will be tweets galore in coming days, so follow the Rose City Yarn Crawl on Twitter – @rosecitycrawl (and use the hashtag #rcyc like crazy). Head over to Ravelry and join in the discussion. And most of all, Save the Date, Mark Your Calendars, and make sure your coast is clear for March 1-4, 2012, because, seriously, you do not want to miss this crawl!

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Apis Mellifera Mittens

Emily — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:19:04 +0000

Now available! Apis Mellifera Mittens – originally published as the October 2011 pattern for Twisted’s Single Skein Club. Vivian Aubrey (Spindleshanks)

The honeycomb cables in these mittens were initially inspired by the warm tones of the Wheat Heather colorway of Imperial Stock Ranch’s wonderfully soft yet rustic Columbia yarn. From there, well, all the pieces fell quickly into place…

The title, Apis Mellifera, is the scientific term for the Western Honeybee. It is also the root of the name ‘Melissa’, which means ‘honeybee’, and happens to be my mom’s name!

So, these mittens are a tribute to one of my favorite yarns (which inspired the cables), my favorite month of the year (October, when I was born and when I’m publishing this pattern), and the woman who brought me into this world and taught me to love and respect our honeybees. Enjoy!

Yarn: 180 – 200 yards worsted-weight yarn. Sample shown in Imperial Stock Ranch Columbia (100% Columbia Wool; 220yd per 4oz hank), colorway Wheat Heather.
Gauge: 18 sts = 4″/10 cm in stockinette stitch.
Needles: Two size US 8/5mm 24″ circular needles (or size needed to obtain gauge), or needles for your preferred method of knitting in the round.
Notions: Cable needle (optional), waste yarn, darning needle.
Skill level: Advanced beginner.
Size/Finished measurements: Width: one size fits most, apprx 3.5″ across palm. Length: Knit to fit with shorter and longer (plus 1/2 inch) fingertip options.

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Happy New Year! Memory Lane Post #1.

Shannon — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 16:01:02 +0000

Wow. It’s 2012, people. 2011 was quite a year for Twisted. I’m going to spend the next few days reviewing some of our favorite things from 2011, so be prepared to take a Twisted trip down memory lane…

We’ve had great new teachers and classes added to our repertoire, including the super-popular Tunisian Crochet (we’ve got one coming up on January 7th, from 12-3pm, and there are still a few slots left). Tunisian Crochet may just be the next big thing, folks.

Amazing new products, like the phenomenonal Madelinetosh, in an ever-expanding line (we now carry Tosh Merino, Tosh Vintage, Tosh DK, Tosh Merino Light, Tosh Prairie and Tosh Sock. We are quite sure we’ll be adding more and more of this yarn in the coming year.

We met the super-lovely Sarah from Plucky Knitter at the fantastically fun Sock Summit, and started working with her, carrying her knock-you-on-your-booty Primo Fingering and Worsted. This yarn is pretty flipping fantastic – a great ply, a soft yet firm hand, and such a wonderful softness…

We’ve got new things from old favorites, like the awesome, gorgeous and useful knitting mugs from our friends Jampdx. Meghan and Jenn gifted Emily and I each with one, and, even though we have a million and two coffee mugs at home, I find myself washing my hand-thrown Jampdx mug pretty much every day, just so I can enjoy my morning coffee in this fabulous piece of art.

And, as a reminder, we are open regular hours today (9am-8pm), so if you need any of these items, or anything else for that matter, come on by! We have hot tea, comfy couches, friendly staff, and the best darned yarn in the universe!

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New Twisted Patterns

Shannon — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 21:04:44 +0000

I’m going to do a bit of self-publicizing now, because I’ve had four new patterns come out in the last week or so, patterns that for whatever reason took forever to get ready for prime time. These are a great gift for your knitterly friends, either as a gift of the pattern, or to actually knit. I’m super excited about these – they are all easy, quick and wearable. If you click on the photos, you’ll be taken to our website, where you can purchase hard copies of all the patterns, but if you’d rather have or gift electronic versions, head on over to Ravelry, where you can get electronic versions of any Twisted pattern.

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Sesheta Scarf

Emily — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 09:50:52 +0000

Now available! The Sesheta Scarf designed by Melissa Goodale (Stick Chick Knits).

This pattern was originally released in September as part of Twisted’s Shawlette Club.

You’ll feel wise indeed draped in Sesheta, a triangular shawl with an open mesh lace pattern. Named for the Egyptian goddess of knowledge, writing and mathematics, Sesheta displays strong geometric symbols, with triangle and pinwheel designs down the spine and around the hem. Knit from side to side, this lacy shawl only takes one skein of yarn to complete, allowing you to make intelligent use of your stash!

About the Designer – Working under the label Stick Chick Knits, Mel spends her days in Seattle dreaming up new designs and playing with yarn. Her projects expand to fill the space available. Luckily, this doesn’t seem to bother her loving husband and sons.

Yarn: 400 yards fingering or sport-weight yarn. Sample shown in one skein of Hazel Knits Artisan Sock (90% superwash merino wool, 10% nylon; 400yds per 120gr skein), colorway Portobello.
Gauge: 26 sts = 4 inches (10 cm) in stockinette stitch.
Needles: US #4 (3.5 mm) straight or 24” circular needle – or size to get gauge. Piece is worked back and forth.
Notions: Stitch markers.
Skill level: Intermediate.
Size/Finished measurements: One size fits most. 45″ (114 cm) wide from tip to tip. 19″ (48 cm) deep at center back. Measured after blocking.

Get a hard copy of the pattern on our webstore!

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Albers Community Blanket – a Charity Project with Leigh Radford

Shannon — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:22:27 +0000

Please join local knitwear designer Leigh Radford in knitting blankets to be donated to those in need this winter! Knit just one panel of the Albers Stash Blanket – Leigh will be gathering a team to assemble and complete the blankets. Blankets completed here in Portland will be donated to P:ear, Cascade Aids Project and Raphael House. If enough panels are completed, Leigh will expand the list of recipients, adding non-profit organizations outside the Portland-metro area.

If you’d like to coordinate your own effort and donate a blanket within your community, please send Leigh photos of your work in progress and completed blankets as she’ll be posting photos of everyone’s efforts as this project progresses.

How to contribute: Download free pdf of pattern and knit one panel. This is a great project for using up yarn from your stash – follow the color chart provided or create a color palette of your own.
Download pattern: On Leigh’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/leighradfordauthor). Access pattern by clicking “Albers Stash Blanket” on the menu bar to your left.
You can drop off your completed panels at Twisted, or message Leigh (onemoreskein@leighradford.com).
Due date: Panels need to arrive in Portland/OR by January 31, 2012.
Questions? OneMoreSkein@leighradford.com

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2012 Twisted Shawlette Club

Shannon — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:14:25 +0000

2012 is just around the corner! Reserve your space now for next year’s Twisted Shawlette Club. We’ll be upping the ante on yarns, including more luxury fiber blends and some exciting new designers.

Here’s the 2012 line up (subject to change):

March 2012: (Blue Moon Fiber Arts & Debbi Stone)
May 2012: (The Plucky Knitter & Shannon Squire)
July 2012: (Black Trillium & Kristin Spurkland)
September 2012: (Big Alice Dyes & Larissa Brown)
November 2012: (Hazel Knits & Star Athena)
January 2013: (Little Red Bicycle & Carrie Sullivan)

The 2012 Shawlette Club will be $230 for an entire year ($260 shipped US/Canada, $290 international).

If you want to join the fun, please sign up online, or email us, or call us at 503-922-1150.

Already in the club for 2012? Check out our members only page for special extras and out takes…

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New Club – 2012 Mad About Tosh Club

Shannon — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 11:06:58 +0000

We are super excited to debut this brand-spankin’ new club, which is replacing the Single Skein Club here at Twisted. It’s a yarn-and-pattern-only club, no extras, but fantastic yarns and designs. You get a skein of insanely gorgeous Madelinetosh yarn (one month, you’ll even get our exclusive shop colorway! This club will be the first place this color will ever be available!!) and a pattern by a fantabulous Twisted designer. We’ve already seen a few of the design prototypes, and, whoo-hoo, they are fantastic!

Month-yarn-designer combos are subject to shuffle around a bit, due to availability and what-not, but here’s an idea of what you’ll be getting:

February 2012: Shawlette in Tosh Merino Light by Shannon Squire
April 2012: Mittens in Vintage by Star Athena
June 2012: Cowl in Prairie by Kat Buckspan
August 2012: Hat in Tosh Merino – designer TBD
October 2012: Fingerless Mitts in Tosh DK by Emily Williams
December 2012: Socks in Tosh Sock – designer TBD

The 2012 Mad About Tosh Club will be $150 for an entire year ($180 shipped US/Canada, $210 international).

If you want to join the fun, please sign up online, or email us, or call us at 503-922-1150.

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Anne-tarsia in the Round with Anne Berk. Starting 12/4, 1-3

Shannon — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 11:48:07 +0000

Intarsia is traditionally worked back and forth, and can incorporate many colors in the same row, knit with one color at a time. Projects are usually worked flat and seamed. Over the years, Anne has been asked if it could be done in the round, and the answer was “you could, but it is so complex that it isn’t worth the effort”. Then she sat down and figured out a more efficient method that really works! Amaze your friends by doing something that common knowledge says cannot be done, and make a fabulous pair of Zig Zag Socks! $60

Date/Time: Sundays, Dec 4, 11, 18; 1-3pm
Materials: Two colors of fingering-weight yarn, highly contrasting is the best. Size US 1 needles, either DPNs or circs as needed to knit in the round.
Included: Zig Zag Socks pattern by Anne Berk (if you wish to learn intarsia in the round without doing this project, we can contact Anne and work out an alternate plan for you)
Homework: Knit the ribbing as directed in the pattern, in whichever color your prefer
Prerequisites: Previous experience with intarsia is required for this class.
Skills learned: Intarsia knitting without seams.

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Knitted Wit Trunk Show

Shannon — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 16:37:24 +0000

Yay!! One of our favorite ladies in the world is being showcased this week at Twisted – the fantastic Lorajean of Knitted Wit!! We’ve got loads of her yarn, including:

Bulkan (80% Merino, 10% Cashmere, 10% Nylon; 181 yards/100 grams; Aran weight), $28
Cypress Hollow Yarn (2-ply Rambouillet, grown and processed in Wyoming; 400 yards/4 oz; Sport weight). $25
DK (85% Polwarth wool 15% Silk; 330 yards/4 oz; DK weight). $26
Shine (50% super wash merino 50% tencel; 410 yards/oz; Fingering weight). $26
Silky & Plied (60% Merino, 40% Silk; 225 yards/4 oz, Worsted weight). $28
Sport (superwash Falkland; 310 yds/100 grams; Sport weight). $20

As an added bonus, this week, you get 10% off of anything Knitted Wit we have in the shop! That includes yarn we usually carry
and Spinning Fiber.

Lorajean has some great garments and accessories made in her yarn, including patterns from Irish Girlie Knits and Knitbot.

We are also having a meet-and-greet type of thing on Saturday, December 3rd from 1-3pm, so stop by and say hey. Grab some great yarns at a great price and meet a great local dyer.

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